Perspectives on global water security

Authors: Harmel, Daren; CHAUBEY, INDRAJEET - University Of Connecticut; ALE, SRINIVASULU - Texas A&M Agrilife; NEJADHASHEMI, A. POUYAN - Michigan State University; IRMAK, SUAT - University Of Nebraska; DeJonge, Kendall; Evett, Steven - Steve; BARNES, EDWARD - Cotton, Inc; CATLEY-CARLSON, MARGARET - Canadian Water Network Board; Hunt, Sherry; MANI, INDRA - Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2020
Publication Date: 3/4/2020
Citation: Harmel, R.D., Chaubey, I., Ale, S., Nejadhashemi, A., Irmak, S., DeJonge, K.C., Evett, S.R., Barnes, E.M., Catley-Carlson, M., Hunt, S., Mani, I. 2020. Perspectives on global water security. Transactions of the ASABE. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13524.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.13524

Interpretive Summary: A perfect storm threatens the world highlighting the critical need for global water security. Exploding human population, an increasing middle class and its changing dietary demands, changing climate, trade globalization, public mistrust of science, and increasing costs of ensuring sustainability are all stressing water supplies and water availability. It was against this backdrop that the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), along with the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE), convened the Global Water Security Conference for Agriculture and Natural Resources (GWSC) in Hyderabad, Telangana, India in October 2018. This article presents perspectives and recommendations on seven Key Priorities representing the collective contribution of GWSC attendees and presenters: Reduce Food Waste, Increase Wastewater Reuse, Increase Agricultural Resiliency and Efficiency, Optimize Irrigation Efficiency and Increase Crop Water Productivity, Improve Water Supply Management, Improve Water Resource Infrastructure, and Enhance Water Resource Decision-Making and Policy Formulation. A consistent theme throughout the GSWC was the critical need to fully integrate “non-technical” aspects into water resource science and engineering; therefore, such aspects are highlighted and discussed within each Key Priority. It could be correctly argued that socio-economic and political dimensions are as important or more important than scientific and technical aspects of global water security. If we as scientists and engineers fail to recognize and accept this reality, we cannot expect technical solutions to be lasting or effective. We must change our way of thinking and fully incorporate socio-economic and political realities; we must form truly interdisciplinary teams; we must include all relevant players in discussing problems and probable solutions; and we must fully engage in decision-making and policy-formulation processes to ensure global water security.

Technical Abstract: A perfect storm threatens the world highlighting the critical need for global water security. Exploding human population, an increasing middle class and its changing dietary demands, changing climate, trade globalization, public mistrust of science, and increasing costs of ensuring sustainability are all stressing water supplies and water availability. It was against this backdrop that the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), along with the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE), convened the Global Water Security Conference for Agriculture and Natural Resources (GWSC) in Hyderabad, Telangana, India in October 2018. This article presents perspectives and recommendations on seven Key Priorities representing the collective contribution of GWSC attendees and presenters: Reduce Food Waste, Increase Wastewater Reuse, Increase Agricultural Resiliency and Efficiency, Optimize Irrigation Efficiency and Increase Crop Water Productivity, Improve Water Supply Management, Improve Water Resource Infrastructure, and Enhance Water Resource Decision-Making and Policy Formulation. A consistent theme throughout the GSWC was the critical need to fully integrate “non-technical” aspects into water resource science and engineering; therefore, such aspects are highlighted and discussed within each Key Priority. It could be correctly argued that socio-economic and political dimensions are as important or more important than scientific and technical aspects of global water security. If we as scientists and engineers fail to recognize and accept this reality, we cannot expect technical solutions to be lasting or effective. We must change our way of thinking and fully incorporate socio-economic and political realities; we must form truly interdisciplinary teams; we must include all relevant players in discussing problems and probable solutions; and we must fully engage in decision-making and policy-formulation processes to ensure global water security.